Cigarette rolling machines and the like



Oct. 31, 1961 T. A. BANNING, JR

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 10, 195B l1 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 31, 1961 T. A. BANNING, JR 3,006,348

- CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 10, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 2 Oct. 31, 1961 T. A. BANNING, JR 3,006,348

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 10, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 3 Oct. 31, 1961 'r. A. BANNING, JR

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE ll Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Sept. 10, 1958 Invenror:

Oct. 31, 1961 T. A. BANNING, JR

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE l1 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed. Sept. 10, 1958 Oct. 31, 1961 T. A. BANNING, JR

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 11 Sheets-Sheet, 6

Filed Sept. 10, 1958 EL GS \QAQ Oct. 31, 1961 "r. A. BANNING, JR

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE ll Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 10, 1958 InvenTor: W

Oct. 31, 1961 T. A. BANNING, JR 3,006,348

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 10, 1958 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 En M5 mw .m .2 H EA Oct. 31, 1961 T. A. BANNlNG, JR

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE 11 Sheets-Sheet 9 Filed Sept. 10, 1958 Invenror:

Oct. 31, 1961 T. A. BANNING, JR

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE l1 Sheets-Sheet 10 Filed Sept. 10, 1958 Oct. 31, 1961 T. A. BANNING, JR 3,006,348

CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 10, 1958 ll Sheets-Sheet l1 on mt N2 a? we I M II L United States Patent 3,006,348 CIGARETTE ROLLING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Thomas A. Banning, Jr., 5520 S. Shore Drive, Chicago, 1]]. Filed Sept. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 760,149 61 Claims. (Cl. 131-59) This invention concerns itself with improvements in cigarette rolling machines, and the like. A specific application of the features of the present invention is for the production of small sized cigarette rolling machines which may be conveniently carried in the pocket or other personal receptacle, but it will appear that certain of the presently to be disclosed features may also be advantageously used in connection with machines intended for what may be called commercial operations.

I have hereinafter disclosed several embodiments of various of my present improvements. These each include means to continuously (during the cigarette producing operation) receive tobacco from a container which is included within the confines of the unit, and deliver such tobacco to a strip of Wrapper such as conventional cigarette paper. Each embodiment also includes means to roll such strip of paper about an axis which is non-parallel to the length of the paper strip by an angle which I term the angle of spiral. As the process proceeds with advancement of such paper strip and production of such rolling operation the strip is brought into a more and more complete circular condition, with enclosure of the tobacco within such soencircled strip, until a time arrives when the strip has been completely encircled about the proximate tobacco, thus enclosing such tobacco, and encircling it with the desired paper wrapper. Some further rolling then proceeds to produce a strip of overlap of the two edges of the strip so that said edges may be sealed together. Generally the strip is provided with a narrow stripe of suitable cementing agent along one edge so that by a moistening operation produced at the proper location (around the so-encircled product) the gum will be caused to adhere the two edges together. This result is possible by so feeding the strip through the roller element that such gumrned stripe comes against the proximate face of the other edge of the strip at the moistening location. Means may then be provided for cutting off the encircled product at a location beyond the point where the encirclement has been completed but preferably in advance of the moistening location.

The process of producing the continuous length of cigarette above explained requires that the paper strip shall be advanced through the roller element, and that during such paper strip advance the tobacco shall be de'- livered and fed to the paper strip at a location in advance of the position of complete encirclement. Successful operations also require that such delivery of the tobacco to the paper strip shall be substantially in harmony with the progress of the strip through the roller element, so that a substantially uniform packing of the tobacco within the completed roll shall occur, with corresponding production of a substantially uniformly packed length of the completed cigarette, regardless of the length of cigarette produced, within the capacity of the machine. It is thus evident that two definite kinds of feed shall be producedfeed of the paper strip, and feed of the tobacco to and against such strip. Furthermore, these two classes of feed should be harmonized with each other so that the desired quality of product shall be produced, regardless of the rate of feed of the paper strip, within the limits of the machine.

A prime object of the present invention is to provide definite and dependable means to produce the advance of 3,006,348 Patented Oct. 31, 1961 the paper strip, and definite and dependable means to produce the feed of the tobacco to the paper strip at the proper zone during the paper strip advance.

In Letters Patent of the United States, No. 2,788,004 issued to me April 9, 1957, for Improvements in Cigarette Machines and the Like, and in my Letters Patent of the United States for Improvements in Cigarette Rolling Machines and the Like, No. 2,791,221, issued May 7, 1957, and in my Letters Patent of the United States, No. 2,873,745, issued February 17, 1959, for Improve ments in Cigarette Machines and the Like, I have disclosed various means to feed the tobacco to the advancing surface of the paper strip from a tobacco container or hopper. In said Letters Patent No. 2,788,004 and in said Letters Patent, No. 2,873,745, I have shown means to produce the operation of wrapping the paper strip around the in-fed tobacco in manner to produce a spirally wrapped cigarette, thus responding to certain of the operations already referred to herein. In said cases I have also shown means to deliver the tobacco to such paper strip at a location or zone in advance of the closing zone of the spiral wrap. In said Letters Patent, No. 2,873,745, I have also shown means supplemental to the tobacco feeding means from the container or hopper for producing a direct thrust against the tobacco fed against the surface of the paper strip, such thrust being directly towards the zone where the closing of the spiral occurs, and assisting drive of the in-fed tobacco towards such zone of closing. Thus I have in said last mentioned case disclosed means to aid in packing the tobacco into the tubular spirally wrapped cigarette to improve the quality of the finished cigarette. It is, however, here noted that the means .to produce such supplemental thrust against the tobacco disclosed in that earlier case is a means which derives its motive force from the advance and movement of the paper strip itself, so that such supplemental drive as therein disclosed constitutes a portion of the work introduced through the paper strip itself, by causing advancement of that paper strip through the system.

An important feature and object of the present invention relates to the provision of means independent of the movement of the paper strip for producing a driving force against the tobacco fed to the surface of the paper strip, such driving force being directly towards the horn or throat of the paper strip spiralling unit to urge the infed tobacco directly towards the zone where the paper wrap around the tobacco is being closed. In this connection it is noted that the unit whereby the paper strip is spiralled into tubular form around the in-fed tobacco is of form such that this direct thrust towards the spiral closing zone may be produced in very simple and convenient manner. Such tobacco drive producing means may be actuated in convenient manner. The following relationship is now noted in connection with the actuation of such tobacco drive producing means:

In each of the previously mentioned letters patent the movement of the paper strip through the system is produced by exerting a pull on that strip at the location where the spiral wrap has been completed. To this end the horn of the spiral producing unit is provided with suitable openings through which the formed and filled cigarette may be grasped and advanced with a spiral movement. In the present application I have disclosed means to grip the formed and filled cigarette at the zone where such completion has been produced, such gripping means including elements which produce the gripping action on the completed cigarette with advancement of the cigarette lengthwise, and with proper rotative component of motion during such advancement, corresponding to the angle of spiral on which the wrapping has been produced. These operations are produced by manual pull of the user of the device on a simple form of trigger or lug which pro jects from the shell of the unit at a location convenient for manipulation by a finger of the hand of the user grasping the body of such unit. The arrangement is such that each trigger movement will produce approximately a predetermined amount of advance of the completed cigarette, with corresponding advance of the paper strip and move ment of the tobacco from the container thereof to loca* tion against the paper strip surface. The trigger is restored to its non-operated position after each operation thereof by a simple retracting spring. By repeated trigger movements the desired total length of cigarette is produced and delivered at the delivery orifice. Means are provided for moistening the overlapped edge portions of the paper strip to produce the desired sealing action. Means are also provided for cutting oh the length of delivered completed cigarette at a location between the end of the horn and the moistener. By this arrangement when the desired length of cigarette has been formed, sealed, and delivered, and is cut off and withdrawn from the location of the horn, the moistener is not left in engagement with any cigarette portion and does not again contact any cigarette portion until another cigarette producing operation has been commenced. Thus, the danger of drainage of moisture needlessly from the water container is avoided, and no improper movement of moisture from the moistener to that paper strip and tobacco left remaining in the horn can occur. Such movement would otherwise occur due to seepage or capillary attraction.

In the present application I have disclosed three embodiments of devices for gripping the formed and filled and completed cigarette, each of which forms is adapted to produce a gripping action radially inwards of the cigarette and over a substantial area of the cigarette surface extending lengthwise of such cigarette. Thus damage to the completed cigarette due to the gripping and pulling action will be reduced to a minimum. In each of these embodiments the gripping device is given a rotary mo tion during its forward advance, on an angle of spiral the same as the spiral angle at which the wrap of the paper strip is produced during cigarette formation. Thus improper twist of the cigarette, tending to either unwrap or overwrap the formed cigarette will be avoided, and damage to the newly produced lap of the paper strip edges together will be prevented.

To produce the supplemental thrust or urge of the tobacco towards the spiral closing zone I have herein disclosed a drive plunger or piston element acting directly towards such closing zone and aligning with the producing cigarette. It will presently appear that with the spiral producing means herein disclosed, and which is also disclosed in said Patent No. 2,788,004 and in said Letters Patent No. 2,873,745 the curling of the paper strip on the intended angle or spiral occurs about an axis which extends at an angle of spiral with respect to the direction of in-feed of the paper strip. It will also appear that with such form of spiraller it is possible to introduce a plunger or driving element into the back end of the spiraller in alignment with the axis of form of the spiral wrap. Such plunger may then be reciprocated towards and away from the horn of the spiraller with strokes properly proportioned to drive the tobacco towards such horn at proper rate to ensure good packing of the tobacco into the completed cigarettes. I shall presently also refer more particularly to the means which I have herein disclosed for moving the tobacco from the hopper or container to the surface of the advancing paper strip, and it will then appear that by proper operation of such plunger element in relation to the withdrawal of the completed cigarette from the horn a pumping action will be produced, so that the reciprocation of such plunger will simulate the pumping strokes of a reciprocating plunger pump, but without presence or need of any valves in the ensemble.

I have herein disclosed means to interconnect the ci arette withdrawing unit with such plunger element so that at a proper time in each reciprocating movement the two acts of driving the tobacco towards the horn, and of withdrawing the completed cigarette from the horn will be synchronized to ensure good packing of the tobacco into the completed cigarette. Such interconnecting means also makes it possible to produce the desired plunger drive movements by the same trigger which is used to withdraw the completed cigarette from the horn, so that the operator need give no special attention to either of the two related operations, but has merely to efiect successive trigger pulls by use of his finger to effect both desired operations in proper harmony.

In connection with the foregoing interconnection between the gripping element and the plunger element the following further conditions are now mentioned:

Both of the desired movementsdrive of tobacco to wards the horn, and withdrawal of the completed cigarette from such hornare in the same direction, towards the point of cigarette delivery or exit. Accordingly, in order to ensure desired packing of the tobacco during the cigarette forming operation provision should be made for some excess of driving movement as compared to the extent of cigarette delivering movement so that the tobacco as finally encompassed into the completed cigarette will be under greater degree of pack than prior to entry of such tobacco into the formed cigarette. I have made provision herein for making such excess driving movement possible. I have also so arranged the parts that the relation of drive movement compared to cigarette withdrawal may be readily adjusted from time to time if desired, to thus ensure good operation with tobaccos of various specifications of density, moisture content, fiber length, and other factors affecting the packing which will actually be produced.

In connection with the foregoing, and specifically, I have made provision for ensuring that the first portion of the trigger operation will cause driving movement of the plunger towards the horn, to thus commence actual drive of the tobacco prior to commencement of the cigarette withdrawal. The extent of this driving movement prior to commencement of cigarette withdrawal is adjustable so that when the actual withdrawal of the completed cigarette commences the desired packing will have occurred. Then as such cigarette withdrawal continues during the remainder of the trigger operation the plunger will continue its forward movement in harmony with the cigarette withdrawal movement, so as to maintain the desired compacting condition during actual cigarette production for the full cigarette delivery movement. Thus the compactness of the produced cigarette will be substantially uniform through the entire length of cigarette delivered. The extent of lost-motion which occurs between the commencement of the plunger movement and the commencement of the cigarette withdrawal movement is adjustable from zero to a considerable maximum so as to make it possible to adapt the device to satisfactory operation in the production of the cigarettes from various kinds and specifications of tobaccos, and also to meet the desires of the cigarette smoker as respects compactness of his supply of cigarettes. The arrangement is such that such adjustment of the extent of lost-motion may be readily made without need of using special tools, other than a small screw-driver or like instrument, and upon opening the front end of the casing which is intended to be opened from time to time for various purposes.

The plunger may be made of any suitable material. Thus, it may comprise a small metal tube, closed at its front end; or it may comprise a short rod of plastic or other like material. I also contemplate the formation of such plunger with its front or working end formed of such elastic material as sponge or foam rubber so that under the compression produced during the first portion of the operation such front end will compress slightly, to

be followed at a later time by corresponding expansion needed possibly to ensure good and uniform tobacco compressing operation into the horn.

A further feature of the invention relates to the means whereby the tobacco contained within the hopper or container is moved under pressure towards and against the surface of the paper strip at a location in advance of the zone where the spiral is closing, such movement being of extent which will substantially forbid further delivery of tobacco against the paper strip. In the aforesaid Letters Patents Nos. 2,788,004, 2,873,745, and No. 2,791,- 221, I have disclosed various arrangements for urging the tobacco contained in the hopper or container towards the surface of the paper strip at such location in advance of the closing of the spiral tube of paper. In the present application I have disclosed and shall hereinafter describe various other means and arrangements for urging the tobacco to the desired location for entry into the forming cigarette. These additional means include means to strip the tobacco contained within a package such as a sales package of the tobacco, by use of a tape or strip of tensile material which is set into such package prior to introduction of the tobacco thereinto, such tensile strip lying around the interior of such package and between the tobacco and the package surfaces proximate to such strip. The ends of such strip are packed into the package and at a location adjacent to the point at which it is intended that the user of such package of tobacco shall open the package. Upon thus opening the package the strip ends are available for connection to suitable elements of the cigarette machine for the following operations:

One end of such strip is anchored against withdrawal inwardly of the package of tobacco, and to resist the tension to be produced during tobacco withdrawal. The other or free end of such strip is connected by the user of the cigarette machine to a proper element of that machine, so that when the charging operation shall have been completed such free end of the strip is placed under elastic tension. The result of such tension is to urge the discharge of the tobacco through the opening of the package previous.y mentioned. The package of tobacco is inserted into the cigarette machine casing in such manner that said opening registers with the zone at which the tobacco is to be delivered against the surface of the paper strip from which the cigarette is formed. Thus, when the charging operation has been completed the package strip is under tension urging discharge of the tobacco to the proper zone of the unit, and the arrangement is such that this tension will be sufiicient during the entire discharging operation of the tobacco package to ensure good operation for the entire capacity of the unit.

In connection with the foregoing, the several embodiments of such arrangements herein disclosed are so designed that in each case the tension developed on the strip Within the tobacco package will not be produced until the package has been inserted into the casing of the unit to the proper point where development of such tension will not prematurely discharge the tobacco from its package. These several embodiments include arrangement wherein such tobacco package shall be inserted through a top opening of the casing of the unit, or, in other embodiments, through an end opening in such casing. Having made the insertion of the package the tension element is brought into play to produce the intended operation.

These embodiments include arrangements such that the free end of the strip within the package shall be located at the rear end of the spiral former in certain embodiments, and in another embodiment such free end of the package strip shall be located at that end of the spiral former nearest to the horn. In all cases the arrangements are such that complete discharge of the tobacco from the package is possible, thus ensuring economical use of the unit.

In another embodiment I have made provision for stripping the tobacco directly from the hopper or cont-ainer wherein it shall have been introduced in bulk, this embodiment being usable with bulk tobaccos instead of with specially provided packages of the tobacco intended to be used in the unit.

It is now apparent that in those embodiments which are intended to receive specially provided packages of tobacco which packages are provided with the stripper strips, such packages must be specially made to meet the specifications of the cigarette machine with which they are intended to be used. Such specifications include proper size, length, width, and depth, and require that the stripper strips shall be packed into them at the time of such packing. It is also necessary, when using such specially prepared and packed packages that they be so constructed, and the stripper strips be so set into them that when such packages are opened at the intended loca tions the end portions of the stripper strip shall be readily accessible through such opening. Also, that such opening shall be produced at such location of the package that when the opened package is set into the cigarette machine the package opening shall properly register with the location of the machines elements at which the to bacco is delivered to the spiraller or twister. Accordingly these embodiments are such that the packages of tobacco to he used with them are special to and intended for use specially with such embodiments and constructions of cigarette machines.

Further features of the invention relate to the stripper strips themselves and their formation and the materials from which they are made, in order to ensure proper operation in the machines with which they are used. In this connection such stripper strip must be of sufficient tensile strength to sustain the tensions developed during use, and provisions must be made for developing such tensions during use. Furthermore, it is intended that the stripper strip shall be of the full width of the tobacco container, whether such container be a specially packed package or a chamber of the cigarette machine itself. During cigarette producing operation the stripper strip is moved towards the opening through which the tobacco is delivered to the spiraller or twister and the desired or necessary tension is maintained in such strip during such operation. In order to ensure good operation throughout the entire series of cigarette producing uses such strip must also maintain good engagement of its edge portions with the walls of the container. Otherwise particles of the tobacco will creep between the edges of the strip and such walls, tending to impair the operation. Since the strip must be flexible and since its body between its anchored and pulled ends is free of other restraint than that produced by the resistance of the body of tobacco being acted upon, it follows that the strip must also be of a form and material well suited to take the total tension developed in the strip with an even distribution of such total tension across the full width of the strip. That condition requires that the strip must be of a substantially uniform tensile quality across its full width, as otherwise some portions of such width will stretch slightly more than other portions, allowing the strip to become distorted across its width, and resulting in the production of slight spaces between the edges of the strip and the proximate container walls.

I contemplate the use of stripper strips of two general categories. In the one category are strips made of sub stantially non-elastic materials such as thin plastic strips, of a thickness of a few thousandths of an inch, more or less, and possessing high specific tensile strength, and of substantially uniform quality across their widths. Also non-elastic strips of finely woven fabric, also of high specific tensile strength, and preferably of double weave thickness but of thickness of the order of a few thousandths of an inch or one or two hundredths of an inch, more or less.

Also included in the category of non-elastic strips I contemplate the use of strips of thin metal strip, such as a good quality of steel, either spring or otherwise, brass, and other flexible metals. As a specific form of such metal strips I include a form of strip formed of spring steel or alloy, formed with a curved cross-section, so that such strip, although substantially non-elastic lengthwise, may nevertheless be bent around not too sharp corners, while always tending to return to a straight condition lengthwise. Various brands of such strip material are in use for particular purposes, including the production of measuring units for measuring lengths of materials or bodies. Such strips are produced under various trade names or brands, one such being known as a Negator. Such strips may be wound on drums of small size, and when released the strip tends to straighten out the onwound portion of its length due to its curved cross-section form. One such strip has a width between the edges when curved of substantially /8 inch, and a thickness of substantially 0.005 inch. It is made of alloy steel, and is well polished.

The other general category of stripper strips which I contemplate is elastic. Strips of such elastic materials as the elastic tapes used for garters, suspenders, and other like objects are suitable for elastic stripper strips, since they are provided with strengthened edges of the weave, thus producing added specific elasticity along such edges. This tends to ensure against twist of such strips between their free or supported ends, and thus to ensure good contact of such free edges with the walls of the tobacco container. Other materials from which such elastic stripper strips may be made include bands of rubber or neoprene, and other elastic materials of uni-form quality and specifications.

A hybrid category includes stripper strips having one portion or portions of their lengths formed of elastic material, and another portion or portions formed of nonelastic material, such elastic and non-elastic lengths being connected together at a location generally within the tobacco container or hopper. When using such a hybrid form of stripper strip the free end of the elastic length may be anchored to one end of the opening through which the tobacco is delivered to the spiraller or twister, and the non-elastic length may then be retained, either by anchoring or by winding on a suitable drum under the condition that the elastic length is under stretch. Such stretch condition will tend to shorten the overall length of the strip between its anchored end and its other end, thus producing the tendency to reduce the perimeter of the tobacco containing space and urging delivery of the tobacco. In one embodiment hereinafter described I have shown such a hybrid form of stripper strip, and have disclosed special means whereby the tension exerted against the tobacco may be readily readjusted or renewed from time to time, without need of opening the tobacco container itself.

A further feature of the invention relates to the provision of means to indicate the degree of exhaustion of the tobacco charge then contained in the unit. This is especially desirable when using specially made packages of tobacco for use in the device, so that the user may be readily informed as to when it will be proper to renew the tobacco charge, thus avoiding failure of the device to operate properly due to exhaustion of the tobacco.

Other objects of the invention are to provide units of simple design and construction, which can be made from sheet metal or other material stampings or mouldings, which can be readily and quickly assembled at low consumption of time, and which can be produced in quantity at low cost per unit. Also, to produce such units of design and size that they can be readily accommodated within the users pocket, or other carrier, and without undue prominence.

Other objects and uses of the invention will appear from a detailed description of the invention, which consists in the features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention, the doors which give access to the horn of the spiraller being both closed;

FIGURE 2 shows a view similar to that of FIGURE 1, but with the left-hand door open to reveal the spiraller horn, the moistener tip, and a portion of the cut-off blade arrangement, etc;

FIGURE 3 shows a perspective view of a tobacco package suitable for use in connection with the unit of FIG- URES 1 and 2, the end portion of one edge of such package having been opened to give access to the ends of the tobacco stripping tape which was packed into such package prior to introduction of the tobacco thereinto; and one end of such tape has been connected to the elastic tension element by which tension will be produced on the tension strip for urging delivery of the tobacco after the package has been inserted into the cigarette machine; and this figure also shows the clip which is to be set over that end of the package opposite to the connection of the elastic tension element, the clip at the tension element end of the package also being in place on that end of such package;

FIGURE 4 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the cigarette machine with the tobacco package in place therein, some of the tobacco having been already delivered from such package; and this figure is a section taken on the lines 44 of FIGURES 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, l0 and 11, looking in the directions of the arrows in such figures;

FIGURE 5 shows a horizontal section taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURES 6, 7 and 8 are other horizontal sections taken on the lines 66, 77 and 88 of FIGURE 4, looking in the directions of the arrows;

FIGURES 9, 10 and 11 are vertical cross-sections taken on the lines 9-9, Iii-10 and 1111 of FIGURES 5, 6, 7 and 8, respectively, looking in the directions of the arrows;

FIGURE 12 shows a face view of the elastic tension element which is inserted into the unit of FIGURES 1 to 11, inclusive, to produce the tensioning of the stripper tape of the tobacco package by which tensioning the tobacco is urged outwardly from such package when the cigarette machine is in operative assembly; the elastic element of FIGURE 12 being in the retracted or contracted condition; and this figure also shows the small tackle block element by which the length of tape which can be withdrawn from the tobacco package is multiplied as compared to the actual amount of contraction of the elastic element;

FIGURE 13 shows an edge view corresponding to FIGURE 12;

FIGURE 14 shows a face view of one form of sheet blank from which the spiraller or twister will be produced;

FIGURE 15 shows a face view of the blank which produces the floor of the tobacco space;

FIGURE 16 shows a face view of the blank which forms the partition between the tobacco package receiving hopper and the paper tape receiving roller;

FIGURE 17 shows a face view of the partition dividing the lower portion of the casing which is below the cigarette roller or twister and below the tobacco compartment, into a rear section which accommodates the rear lower portion of the twister and the body portion of the water supply compartment, and a front section to which access is gained through the side openings of the casing when the doors are opened;

FIGURES 18 and 19 show face views of the two blanks which form the sides of the assembly which is afterwards introduced into the casing to complete the cigarette machine assembly;

FIGURE 20 shows a face view of one of the blanks from which are formed the clips which are set over the ends of the special tobacco containing package;

FIGURE 21 shows a face view of the spacer plate which is set against the face of the side plate at that side of the unit where the twister is located to produce a smooth surface against which the tobacco package at that side of the hopper will bear;

FIGURES 22 and 23 show, respectively, detail views of the cutter blade and the rest or support against which the cigarette bears during the cutting-off operation;

FIGURE 24 shows in fragmentary form the proximate terminal end of one paper strip and the beginning end of the next paper strip used in the cigarette machine; and this figure shows how these proximate end portions may be cemented together to ensure proper continuous transfer of the cigarette producing operation from the one paper strip to the other;

FIGURE 25 shows a view somewhat similar to that of FIGURE 2, but illustrating a first modified embodiment of the invention; the embodiment shown in FIGURE 25 including a cigarette carrier element telescopically mounted in the casing of the cigarette machine, and adapted to receive and hold the cigarette as delivered from the horn; and this modification also includes other features of difference from that of previous figures;

FIGURE 26 shows a vertical longitudinal section taken on the lines 2626 of FIGURES 27 and 28, looking in the directions of the arrows; and in FIGURE 26 the carrier element is retracted back into the casing of the cigarette machine;

FIGURES 27 and 28 show cross-sections taken on the lines 2727 and 2328', respectively, of FIGURE 26, looking in the directions of the arrows;

FIGURE 29 shows a fragmentary face view of the proximate end portions of the stripper tape of the tobacco package and the tensioning tape, showing how these ends may be readily connected together when re-charging the tobacco hopper of the cigarette machine with tobacco;

FIGURE 29A shows a fragmentary side elevational view of the outer end of a cigarette carrier element such as that shown in FIGURES 25 and 26, together with a tubular cigarette receiving unit to be set onto such carrier element and supported thereby, and a cigarette gripper element to grip the outer end of the finished cigarette and to be moved through such tubular unit while the cigarette end is thus gripped, the parts being so related that the proper rotary component is imparted to the cigarette gripper during such movement, corresponding to the angle of spiral at which the cigarette is being produced;

FIGURE 29B shows a left-hand end view of the cigarette end gripper of the arrangement shown in FIG- URE 29A;

FIGURE 30 shows a vertical longitudinal section through a second modified embodiment of the present invention, being an arrangement in which the tensioning of the tobacco stripper tape from the tobacco package is produced by a spring urged rotary element of the cigarette machine;

FIGURES 31 and 32 are vertical cross-sections through the modification shown in FIGURE 30, taken on the lines 3131 and 32-32 of FIGURE 30, looking in the directions of the arrows;

FIGURE 33 shows a cross-section through the spring urged tape winding element which is included in FIG- URE 30, but on enlarged scale as compared to FIG- URE 30;

FIGURE 34 shows a perspective view of a typical tobacco package intended for use in connection with the embodiment of FIGURES 30, 31, 32 and 33, such package being shown in its fully sealed condition and prior to opening thereof;

FIGURE 35 shows a perspective view of the package of FIGURE 34, but with the right-hand portion of the top edge of such package torn ofi to expose the two ends of the stripper tape which was packed into such package prior to packing the tobacco into such package; and this figure also shows the two clips which are to be set over the ends of the tobacco package, one of the free ends of the stripper tape (the left-hand end) to be caught onto the proximate end of the left-hand clip, and the righthand end of the stripper tape to be run over the proximate end of the right-hand clip;

FIGURE 36 shows a view similar to that of FIGURE 35, but with the stripper tape ends properly co-ordinated with the proximate clip ends; and the so-prepared tobacco package unit is then to be introduced into the tobacco hopper and the free tension end of the stripper tape (now the left-hand end as shown in FIGURE 30) is to be connected to the tensioning spring urged drum as shown in FIGURE 30;

FIGURE 37 shows a perspective view of a third modified embodiment of the present invention; the front door element having been swung down into its open position;

FIGURE 38 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the embodiment shown in FIGURE 37; and in this embodiment I have reversed the tensioning action produced on the package stripper tape as compared to previously illustrated embodiments, so that in the embodiment of FIGURE 38 the inner end of the stripper tape is retracted during the tobacco stripping operation, the outer end of such tape being anchored;

FIGURE 39 shows aperspective view of a typical tobacco package intended for use in connection with the embodiment shown in FIGURES 37 and 38, such illustrated package being shown in its sealed condition;

FIGURE 40 shows a View similar to that of FIGURE 39, but with the top edge of the tobacco package torn off to reveal the ends of the stripper tape contained in such package;

FIGURE 41 shows a View similar to that of FIGURE 40, but with the tobacco package inserted into a light package carrier which is itself provided with the spring urged tensioning drum to which the proximate tape end is to be connected as is shown in FIGURE 41; and the arm carrying such drum is then swung down into facial relation to the tobacco contained in the package, and the so-prepared unit is then set into the case of the cigarette machine as shown in FIGURE 38;

FIGURE 42 shows a perspective view of a fourth modification of the present invention, the front door element having been swung down into its open position;

FIGURE 43 shows a view similar to that of FIGURE 42, but with the tobacco hopper door raised into its open position to give access to the tobacco hopper for bulk charging thereof;

FIGURE 44 shows a vertical longitudinal section through the embodiment shown in FIGURES 42 and 43; and in the present embodiment I have provided the stripper tape element as a portion of the hopper element, and have connected one end of such stripper tape by anchor directly to the hopper casing, and have connected the tensioning end of such stripper tape directly to the spring urge tensioning element so that the embodiment may be considered as a bulk charge embodiment, not requiring the use of a specially prepared tobacco package with its self-contained stripper tape;

FIGURE 45 shows a horizontal section taken on the lines 4545 of FIGURES 44, 46 and 47, looking in the directions of the arrows;

FIGURES 46 and 47 are cross-sections taken on the lines 46-46 and 4747, respectively, of FIGURES 44 and 45;

FIGURE 48 shows a vertical longitudinal section through a fifth modification embodying features of my present invention and this embodiment is similar in various respects to the original embodiment shown in FIG- URES 1 to 21, inclusive; but the present embodiment also includes means to exert a pull on the front end of the completed but not moistened cigarette, means to exert a pushing drive against the tobacco acting directly towards the horn of the spiraller, means to exert the pull and such driving push by direct operation of the trigger element actuated by the user of the device, a lost-motion connection between said last named elements and means to adjust the amount of the lost-motion of said connection, and other elements and features not shown in said embodiment of FIGURES 1 to 21, inclusive;

FIGURE 49 shows a left-hand elevation of the embodiment shown in FIGURE 48;

FIGURES 50 to 59, inclusive show cross-sections taken on the lines 50-50 to 5959, inclusive, respectively, of FIGURE 48, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 60 shows a right-hand elevation of the embodiment shown in FIGURES 48 to 59, inclusive;

FIGURE 61 shows a horizontal section taken on the lines 6161 FIGURES 48, 50 and 51, looking in the directions of the arrows;

FIGURE 62 shows a fragmentary elevation of that portion of the interconnection between the cigarette pulling element and the push drive plunger element, including a showing of the means whereby the lost-motion, if any, may be adjusted as to amount, by a simple operation;

FIGURE 63 shows a face view of a blank from which the spiraller and related parts may be formed for the present embodiment;

FIGURE 64 shows, on enlarged scale, a development into planar form of an arrangement for developing a grip on the completed but not moistened cigarette at the loca tion of the horn of the spiraller, the pulling sleeve and the drag sleeve being at their rearward or non-pulled positions, such that grip is not yet being developed on the cigarette; and in this figure the gripping bands are shown in dotted lines;

FIGURE 65 shows a development similar to that of FIGURE 64, but with the pulling sleeve drawn forwardly in the cigarette delivering direction, and with the drag sleeve also drawn forwardly but to less extent than such pulling sleeve;

FIGURE 66 shows a modified form of the arrangement shown in FIGURES 64 and 6 5, such modification consisting in a modified form of the drag sleeve control slots;

FIGURE 67 shows, on still more enlarged scale than FIGURES 64, 65 and 66, the delivery horn of the spiraller, in longitudinal section, and with the two sleeves and the gripping bands in their rearward or non-pulled locations;

FIGURES 68 and 69 show cross-sections taken on the lines,68-68 and 691-69, of FIGURES 64 and 67;

FIGURE 70 shows a modified form of the tobacco drive plunger, being a detail of such plunger and related parts, such modification consisting in the provision ofta plunger of substantially full size in its tobacco driving end and in its portions behind such drive end, to thus avoid jamming of tobacco behind such front end of the plunger during backward return strokes of the plunger.

FIGURE 71 shows, on scale greater than that of FIG- URES 1 to 63, a left-hand slide elevation of a modified form of cigarette delivery construction in which the completed cigarette (with the exception of sealing and cutting-oil) is gripped by a contractable gripper which is contracted by a small amount of movement of the gripper actuating rod produced at the beginning of the reciprocable bar movement stage after completion of the first stage of packing the tobacco into the horn, after which the actual forward pulling of the cigarette'is produced, and in which the gripping action is released prior to return movement of the gripper so that tendency to back up the cigarette is minimized; and in this construction the gripper comprises an extension element in advance of the front or delivery end of the horn; and the cigarette delivery construction shown in this figure is adapted for use in connection with the cigarette rolling unit fully illustrated in FIGURES 48 to 63, inclusive but 12 in substitution for the gripper construction shown in FIG- URES 64 to 69, inclusive;

FIGURE 72 shows a top or plan view corresponding to FIGURE 71;

FIGURE 73 shows a bottom View corresponding to FIGURES 71 and 72, the gripper being in its relaxed or non-gripping condition;

FIGURE 74 shows a view similar to that of FIGURE 73 with the gripper in its contracted or gripping condition, produced by the slight forward drive of the gripper actuating rod at commencent of the cigarette out-pulling phase of the operation;

FIGURE 75 shows a left-hand view corresponding to FIGURE 71, being a cross-section taken on the line 75 75 of FIGURE 71, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 76 shows a right-hand end view corresponding to FIGURE 73;

FIGURE 77 shows a right-hand end view corresponding to FIGURE 74;

FIGURE 78 shows another embodiment of features of my present invention in which the twister or roller is fed with tobacco from the hopper by a stripper tape; and in this construction such stripper tape is formed partly of elastic material and partly of non-elastic material according to one of the principles previously referred to herein; and in this construction I have illustrated the form of cigarette gripper and puller shown in FIGURES 71 to 77, inclusive, and I have also shown a trigger element for intermittently advancing such gripper element and advancing the forming cigarette a predetermined amount, so that by a series of successive trigger operations a cigarette of desired total length may be produced as a continuous length, prior to cutting off; and in this embodiment I have also shown a spiral tobacco driver for assisting in movement of the tobacco towards the interior of the horn, together with means to successively rotate such tobacco driver angular advances with successive trigger operations, and with such advances always in the same rotative direction, so that there is no tendency to back-up the tobacco from the horn;

FIGURE 79 shows a vertical longitudinal section of the unit of FIGURE 78, taken on the line 79-79 of FIGURE 80, looking in the direction of the arrows;

IGURE 80, shows a plan section taken on the lines 88Si) of FIGURES 78, 79, 81 and 82, looking in the directions of the arrows;

FIGURE 81 is a section taken on the line 8l81 of FIGURES 78, 79 and 80, looking in the directions of the arrows, being a vertical cross-section;

FIGURE 82 is a vertical cross-section taken on the lines 8282 of FIGURES 78, 79 and 80, looking in the directions of the arrows;

FIGURE 83 is a detailed vertical cross-section taken on the lines 83S3 of FIGURES 79 and 80, and it shows the light clips for holding the delivering cigarette as it emerges from the location of the moistener and sealer, and for temporarily holding the delivered and cut off cigarette after the cutting off operation;

FIGURE 84 shows on double scale as compared to previous figures, a section taken on the line 84 of FIG- URE 82, looking in the direction of the arrows; and it shows one form of ratchet and holding pawl arrangement for retaining the tape take-up roll in wound condition, against the tension existing in such tape due to stretch of its elastic portion (or all of the tape), with simple provision for releasing such roll to allow the elastic tape portion to contract fully with release of tension when the tobacco hopper is to be opened for introduction of a fresh body of tobacco into the hopper and within the perimeter of the stripper-tape;

FIGURE 85 shows, schematically, and by line diagram, the elementstof the linkage of the cut-off unit shown in this embodiment; this figure being on double scale as compared with such figures as FIGURES 78, 79, 80, 81, 82 and 83;

FIGURE 86 shows, on double scale as compared to such figures as 78 to 83, inclusive, a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 8686 of FIGURE 79, looking in the direction of the arrows; and it shows the means for producing rotary advances of the spiral or screw type tobacco feeder which urges the tobacco towards the twister horn, with successive rotary advances always in the same rotary direction;

FIGURE 87 shows on enlarged scale as compared to such figures as FIGURES 78 to 83, inclusive, a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line 8787 of FIGURE 79, looking in the direction of the arrows; and it shows a conventional form of full-stroke device for ensuring full stroke of the trigger operated unit in both directions of stroke;

FIGURE 88 shows a cross-section through a form of thin spring metal tape of concave-convex cross-sec tion which is readily bent or curved around corners, etc., and which may be used as a convenient form of strippertape in the various embodiments herein disclosed; the tape shown in this figure being on considerably enlarged scale as compared to other figures;

FIGURE 89 shows more or less schematically a tobacco hopper provided with a hybrid stripper strip formed of an elastic section and a non-elastic section joined together end to end, one end of the elastic section being anchored at one end of the opening through which the tobacco is delivered to the twister or spiraller; and

FIGURE 90 shows a view similar to that of FIGURE 86, but showing a modified construction in which the spiral slot is spiralled in reverse direction from that shown in FIGURE 86 so that the screw is rotated'counterclockwise when viewed from the front of the machine, and in this figure the screw is also spiralled in direction opposite to the spiralling of the screw shown in FIGURE 86, so that the tobacco will be advanced towards the horn notwithstanding the counterclockwise rotation of such screw.

Several embodiments of the features of the present invention are disclosed herein. These embodiments have been designed primarily to meet the needs of a small size cigarette roller, but it will appear hereinafter that some of such features may well be used in connection with cigarette making machines intended for commercial operations. Each of the embodiments herein disclosed is of that type in which the paper strip wrapper is produced in spiral form around the tobacco, and from a strip of proper width. The operation of wrapping the wrapper around the tobacco may proceed continuously or intermittently according to the details of the unit, and the desires of the user. One embodiment hereinafter disclosed incorporates means to advance the forming cigarette by a step-by-step operation, each step being produced by a finger operated trigger with spring retraction, each step advancing the cigarette formation by an amount dependent on the design, as for example, substantially one-half inch.

The embodiments hereinafter described are of the wrapper producing type disclosed in Letters Patent of the United States, No. 2,788,004, issued April 9, 1957, filed June 3, 1955, and also disclosed in my Letters Patent, No. 2,873,745. Each of said earlier patents discloses a wrapper producing unit which I term a twister wherein acontinuously supplied strip of paper or other suitable wrapper material of selected width is fed in flat form into the twisterat one end thereof conveniently 7 called the entrance end. This twister is formed with guides to ensure travel of the strip in proper direction through the unit, and the curling is carried far enough to produce a complete encirclement with the edges of the strip in overlapping relationship, after which the so-formed cigarette moves through a tubular-horn section to a point of delivery. Means are provided for moistening the overlapped edges at a position beyond the horn to seal said edges together. Generally one of the edges of the strip is pre-prepared with a narrow gummed surface which comes into contact with the proximate surface of the other edge when the curling operation has been completed, in which case the scaling is performed by moistening such prepared gummed edge. Each of such earlier embodiments also includes a suitable cutter located preferably between the delivery end of the horn and the point of sealing, so that when a length of completed cigarette is to be cut ofi such cutting is produced just prior to the location of moistening. Thus a sharper cut is produced, the wrapper having not yet been moistened, and adherence of the gum to the cutter edge is avoided.

Each of the said earlier cases also includes a container for a supply of the tobacco, such container being in communication with the twister at a point in advance of the twister location where the Wrapper strips curl to a complete circle is completed, so that the tobacco is introduced against the face of the curling strip and progresses with such strip during the completion of the wrapping operation. Thus a compacting of the tobacco is produced by a lateral compression towards the axis of the cigarette cylinder which is being produced. Additionally, my said Patent No. 2,873,745 also discloses means to urge the tobacco directly towards the horn and the location where the completion of the wrap are encountered, so that the compacting of the tobacco is produced both by a gripping of the tobacco towards the axis of the cylinder and by a direct urge or thrust in the direction of the axis and towards the point of exit. Additionally, each of such earlier embodiments discloses means within the tobacco hopper for urging movement of the contained tobacco towards the opening through which communication is established between the hopper and the curling portion of the twister (and the strip riding thereon). The disclosure for thus urging movement of the tobacco contained in the hopper, shown in Letters Patent No. 2,788,004 is one in which the urge is a direct pressure against the body of tobacco contained within the hopper; the disclosure for a like purpose, shown in said Patent No. 2,873,745, also includes means urging movement of the tobacco rearwardly from the front portion of the hopper towards the location of communication to the twister so that is is possible to ensure good delivery of a full charge of tobacco from the hopper to the twister, even when the hopper extends above the twister to a location forwardly of such point of communication between the hopper and the twister. Additionally, such rearward urge of the tobacco just referred to produces a rolling action within the body of the tobacco still contained within the hopper. Such rolling action tends to break up the mass of contained tobacco, so that tendency of the mass of tobacco to compact within the hopper, and also tendency for the tobacco to bridge across the width of the hopper is greatly reduced. Thus a better and more uniform delivery of the tobacco from the hopper to the surface of the curling strip in the twister is ensured, with corresponding improvement of the uniformity and quality of the cigarettes produced. However, examination of the means disclosed in said co-pending application for producing such endwise urge will show limitations to the extent of movement which may be thus produced towards the opening leading to the twister, as well as other disadvantages which will appear to the student of said case.

One important feature herein disclosed is the provision of a combination of a special package of tobacco to be used in the cigarette machine, being of proper size and shape for insertion in the hopper of such machine; but primarily such special package is provided with a strip of tension tape such as plastic, laid along the longer edge of the bottom of the package and carried up along the ends of the package to the top of the package, and

15 such ends being then preferably sealed into the package at the time of completion of the closing operation of the package. Such ends are of lengths such that when the proximate portion of the top edge is removed the tape ends are accessible and they are of lengths such that they may also be drawn out far enough for attachment to the proper elements of the cigarette machine for the following kind of an operation:

The package is intended to be opened along that portion of such tape end edge for a distance of opening corresponding to the length of the opening of the cigarette machine, which opening leads to the curling portion of the twister. Also, when such edge opening is produced in the package and the package is set down into the hopper compartment (or up into such compartment when the cigarette machine has been purposely turned upside down for the operation), the package opening will register with the opening leading from the hopper to the twister so that proper delivery of tobacco to the twister will be ensured. Generally such package opening will be made at one end of the top edge of the package, commencing at such end and proceeding ap proximately one-half the length of the package. One end of the tape is connected to an anchor by which it is retained against slipping back through the package when the other or pulling end is pulled; but pull exerted on such other pulling end of the tape will tend to produce a tobacco expelling force to drive the tobacco out of the container or package and through the package opening. Therefore I have provided elastic means as a part of the tobacco driving means so that by connecting the pulling end of the tape to such elastic means and then inserting the package into the cigarette machine, a constant pull will be developed, tending to straighten out the tape with drive of the tobacco through the opening of the package and through the opening to the twister, so that a constant urge is developed for tobacco feed to the twister when needed to supply the cigarette being formed, and as long as any tobacco remains in the package and the hopper. In one form or embodiment hereinafter described I have provided such a tape drive arrangement as an integral part of the cigarette machine itself, with provision for charging the tobacco in bulk directly into the hopper of the cigarette machine, instead of providing such tape as a part of the package of tobacco.

The anchored end of the tape is conveniently set at the front end of the opening between the hopper and the twister, with the elastic pulling connection then located at the rear end of the opening, and I have herein disclosed several embodiments of this type. However, in another embodiment the arrangement is reversed, the anchored end of the tape being located adjacent to the rear end of the opening, and the tape end which is forwardly of the opening being connected to pulling means. Thus various tape pulling embodiments are herein disclosed and will be described in detail.

It will presently appear from study of the various embodiments of such hopper discharging arrangements as just outlined that there are various advantages incident to these tape stripping arrangements which advantages are not found in any arrangement in which the tobacco is subjected to a direct down thrust towards the opening to the twister. Primarily these advantages in the tape stripper arrangement revolve around the fact that this scheme ensures a constant rolling or similar movement in the body of the tobacco, so that there is no tendency towards packing or bridging of the tobacco within the hopper. This rolling action occurs in direction generally towards the opening to the twister, and it continually breaks up any bodies of tobacco which tend to slightly compact together and solidify into masses. Thus as the tobacco arrives at the opening to the twister it is in a loose but evenly packed form, more or less homogeneous throughout its body, and thus more easily delivered to a 16 the wrapper tape travelling along the twister and towards the location of complete encirclement by the wrapper tape prior to entry into the horn.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIGURES 1 to 24, inclusive, the twister unit in its entirety is designated 100. In view of the full disclosures as to the construction and mode of operation of this unit contained in said Letters Patent Nos. 2,788,004 and 2,873,745, it is not deemed necessary to repeat those descriptions in full detail here. However, for convenience in understanding my present improvements the entrance portion of said unit at which location the fiat tape is fed into the unit is shown at 101, the curler section is shown at 102, the floor between the twister and the hopper above at 103, the tobacco hopper space at 104, the delivery horn at 105, the opening through which the tobacco is moved from the hopper to the tape riding on the concave surface of the twister at 106, the tape supply compartment at 107, the water container for the moistener at 108, the moistening wic at 109, the cut-off blade at 110, and the casing in its entirety at 111. The unit shown in these figures is also one in which the rolled cigarette is Withdrawn by directly grasping it at the location of the horn by the fingers acting through opposing openings 112 and 113 of the horn. As shown in several of the figures these openings are slanted in opposite directions at the two sides of the horn, and on a slant approximating the angle of spiral. In the design shown in these figures that angle is substantially 24 degrees clockwise when viewed from the right-hand end of the unit, that is, towards the delivery end of the unit. Other means for withdrawing the completed cigarette will be disclosed hereinafter.

It is intended that a supply of wrapper strip shall be introduced into the compartment 107 and threaded through the twister and horn prior to introducing the tobacco into the hopper. Such introduction into the hopper will be disclosed hereinafter, but at this point I call attention to the fact that I have, in FIGURES 5, 6 and 7 shown a small roll of the wrapper strip within such compartment at 114. This roll is shown as having its axis vertical whereas the direction of infeed to the entrance end of the twister is downwardly on a slant of substantially 24 degrees to bring the direction of the tape entering the twister into the direction at which such tape must travel through the curling portion of the twister. Actually this result may be attained by loosely winding the tape into the roll form, or else by using a roll of small diameter and with its axis slanted substantially as shown by the dashed line 115 in FIGURE 4. In such case the compartment 107 may be made larger from front to back to accommodate such diameter of roll as it may be desired to use. However, it is noted that conventional cigarette paper is very thin, although tough, and of high tensile strength, so that a considerable length of such thin paper can be accommodated on a roll of small hub diameter and comparatively small external diameter of the filled bobbin. Generally enough paper can be thus accommodated to meet the requirements for producing cigarettes from several fillings of the tobacco hopper.

In FIGURE 14 I have shown the shape and size of the blank from which the twister shown in the present embodiment is formed. The direction of in-feed of the Wrapper strip is shown by the arrow 116. The width of strip intended to be used in this twister is shown between the dotted fold lines 117 and 118, the edge portions of the blank outside of such fold lines, such edge portions being shown at 119 and 120, are folded over and down towards the face of the central portion of the blank, but slightly separated therefrom so as to accommodate the thickness of the wrapper strip between the body of the blank and the inwardly facing surfaces of such folded portions. I have in FIGURE 14 shown the additional dotted lines 121 and 122 slightly separated from the proximate lines 117 and 118 to indicate this separation of the folded portions 119 and 120 from the body of the strip. A convenient manner of producing the twister will be stated presently, but at this point I mention that after having thus folded the guide elements 119 and 120 into proper relationship to the body the unit is then curled about an axis extending in the direction of the arrow 123 in FIGURE 14, such arrow departing from parallelism with the direction of in-feed of the paper shown by the arrow 116 by the amount of angle of spiral, 24 degrees in the embodiment shown in these figures. The diameter of the cylinder of curl is made the same as the external diameter of the cigarette to be produced by the unit. The curling is so performed that it starts at the line 124 in FIGURE 14, the blank portion lying to the right of such line being then curled about a small rod or cylinder of the proper diameter. Actually the act of thus curling is performed by starting at the corner 125 and rolling leftwardly about such rod while holding the rod parallel to the lines 123 and 124, and continuing the curling only so far as to complete the curling at the line 124. Thus the portion. lying to the left of such line 124 remains flat and tangent to thecylinder so formed by the curling operation.

After having folded the edge portions 119 and 120 into parallelism with the body of the blank it is evident that the curling operation, if performed without special precautions would tend to destroy the small clearance between the edge portion 119 or 120 and the body of the blank so that proper clearance to accommodate the wrapper strip would not be present after the curling operation had been completed. The following procedure has been found successful for carrying forward the folding and curling operations:

A strip of rather hard material such as cold-pressed fine grade card-board of a thickness somewhat greater than the desired clearance for accommodation of the cigarette Wrapper, and of width equal to the spacing between the lines 117 and 118 is set onto the flat blank.

prior to folding the edge portions 119 and 120 over as previously described. Then as said edge portions .are thus folded over against the exposed surface of such card-board or other suitable material, the desired clear-.

ance is ensured between the edge portions 119 and 120 and the surface of the blank. Then the curling operation may be produced as previously explained herein, but with suchcard-board or other material strip still in place,

so that the desired clearance between the edge portions:

If it should be found that the foregoing procedure en tailed the use of excessive force for withdrawal ofthe spacer strip of card-board after the completion of the curling operation, use may be made of two such spacer. strips, each of less thickness than the desired clearance,

but both of the width measured between the lines'117 and 118. Then, after completion of the curling operation it will be found that the outer or exposed strip may be rather readily withdrawn alone as a first operation, after which the second or lowermost strip may be readily withdrawn to complete the operation. Experience has shown that strips of such card-board as Stratlimo're Patent Office drawing sheet are well adapted for use as the spacer strips, as that material has a highly smooth surface, and is highly compressed so that it has a high compressive resistance. Also it is of about the desired thickness for production of the spacing desired. Either two or three ply material of the foregoing specification may be used.

The blank is formed of rather thin, smooth, and highly 18 polished sheet metal. Experience has shown that polished sheet aluminium of a thickness of substantially 0.005 to 0.010 inch (fiveto ten-thousandths of an inch) can be readily used for production of the twister in excellent form, and such material and thickness are stiff enough when curled into form to properly perform the intended functions of the twister, and at the same time to retain the form of the twister against usual deforming forces to which it may be exposed. The thickness of the cigarette paper strip is of the order of oneor two thousandths of an inch, so the clearance between the guide flanges 119 and 120 and the proximate surface of the blank need be only slightly greater than such dimension} It has been found that with use such material and;

proximately the width of the overlap produced by the curler formed from the blank shown in that figure, such overlap being of width equal to the distance between the lines and 118. This overlap width of paper is conventionally gummed on one face and in threading the paper strip through the curler such gummed edge is preferably brought against the surface of the curler so that when the overlap is produced in the location of the horn such gummed edge will lie within the proximate area of the opposite edge of the strip, and with the gummed surface facing outwardly towards the inwardly facing surface of that other edge of the strip. Then, when the rolled but not yet sealed cigarette moves a short distance beyond the horn and into engagement with the moistener presently to be described, the moisture will penetrate the uncemented edge, being the outside layer and by convection and capillary attraction the moisture will be carried clear through such outside layers ungummed edge and will moisten the gummed edge lying within such ungummed edge to a degree sufiicient to ensure proper sealing together of the two edges. By this arrangement the gummed edge surface does not come into direct contact with the moistener, whether a wick or otherwise, so that such moistener does not become fouIed by adherence of gum thereto.

Preferably the twister blank is provided with an extension 126 at its rear or entrance end, which extension reaches into the compartment 107 for the paper strip supply. The rear edge of such extension is slightly rounded as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7 to seat with a slight spring action against the interior face of the proximate shell plate, presently to be described. It is noted that, due to the downward and forward slant of the left-hand portion of the twister, the upper edge of such twister also slants downwardly and rightwardly as shown by the dotted line 127 in FIGURE 4. This will be referred to later herein.

Conveniently the side plates 128 and 129, shown in FIGURES 18 and 19, respectively, are set against the floor plate 130, shown in FIGURE 15, which floor plate sets directly above the twister curling portion. These side plates are provided with lug receiving slots 131 and edge recesses 132 tov receive lugs 133 provided on the proximate edges of the floor platewhen the two side plates are assembled against the floor plate. Then such lugs may be clinched over against the outside faces of the side plates to lock and retain the parts together.

A plate 134 of the form shown in FIGURE 16 is provided to produce a front wall 135 and a floor 136 for the paper compartment 107. It is noted that FIGURE 16 is a view of said plate looking at the face thereof which provides the front of the wall 135 and the bottom of the 

